FAA Contractor ABOUZAR RAHMATI Pleads Guilty to Spying for Iran, Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison

A naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Great Falls, Virginia, has pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the Iranian government while working as a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ABOUZAR RAHMATI, 42, admitted to conspiring with Iranian intelligence and government officials from December 2017 through June 2024, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

RAHMATI, a former 1st Lieutenant in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a U.S.-designated terrorist organization—allegedly provided sensitive U.S. aviation and solar energy industry information to Iranian operatives. The DOJ revealed that RAHMATI obtained employment with an FAA contractor to access non-public data, including details about the National Aerospace System (NAS), airport surveillance radar systems, and radio frequency data.

Court documents indicate that RAHMATI traveled to Iran in December 2017, where he met with intelligence officials and agreed to gather U.S. solar industry information. Upon returning to the U.S., he collected and shared private and open-source materials with Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology. Additionally, RAHMATI downloaded over 175 GB of FAA files, which he transported to Iran in April 2022 and handed over to government officials.

The DOJ further disclosed that RAHMATI provided additional data on solar energy, U.S. airports, and air traffic control towers to his brother in Iran, who then relayed the information to intelligence operatives.

RAHMATI is scheduled for sentencing on August 26, 2024. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government and up to five years for conspiracy, totaling a potential 15-year sentence.

This case underscores ongoing concerns about foreign espionage targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and industries. Fox News Digital’s SARAH RUMPF-WHITTEN contributed to this report.

**Sources:**
[DOJ Press Release](https://www.justice.gov)
[Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com)